5kAIC Rating for Portable Generator Inlets

The lower 5kAIC should be between the source and the load. I can't tell if this is the case by the way you have described it, but if the source can't supply more than 5kAmps, then you should be O. K. from a safety standpoint. Local codes and building officials may have something to say otherwise.

Bill,

Thanks for taking the time to comment, I know my question was somewhat unclear, but based on your reply I believe you understand why. This will help...

NEC is not clear on this subject (to say the least) and I can understand the Utility kAIC ratings, but if I am looking at generator receptacles and for similar products one company claims a 10 and the other a 5kAIC I am having difficulty justifying one over the other for a large scale, non-regional deployment. I have no way of knowing the variety of generators that could be put in place or their ratings. I do not want inspection questions to come pouring in if I were to recommend the 5kAIC product when industry is used to 10kAIC. Definately agreed, safety is not a large concern when a generator has a considerable finite power potential compared to a utility source and the gen would likely fault prior to supplying any damaging fault currents.

-Mike

NEC is not particularly clear on this matter. However, I have run into building officials who don't necessarily understand things well and have required 75kAIC on 100kVA transformers with 5% impedance, for example. The NEC does state that the local authority takes precedence. I have won only one battle in this regard.

My suggestion? If the 10kAIC is not much more expensive, I'd go with that. If it is much more expensive, I'd go with the 5kAIC. I would guess that building officials wouldn't even think about it for a generator, since they're usually located outside buildings. The interrupt ratings of switch gear, located inside buildings, is something to consider for fire safety.